Best Kitchen Utensils List

Spatulas

Obviously, a good set of spatulas is one of the most essential items in a kitchen.

These core kitchen utensils are used almost every day for lifting, flipping, scraping, and other various functions. Therefore, you want to make sure you get something good.

It might surprise you to learn that there are over 70 different kinds of spatulas! They all function differently, and it’s good to have a few different kinds in your kitchen.

Silicone spatulas are good for scraping stubborn bread doughs or emptying out cake dough into the pan.

They are softer and more pliable, making them really effective at scraping batter etc out of a food processor or Thermomix.

They are also heat resistant and dishwasher safe. I have the Wilton set below and use them daily.

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Offset spatulas are perfect for smoothing down buttercream over a cake evenly.

Meanwhile, wok spatulas are the best for mixing vegetables. Look for one with a nice long handle, preferably made from stainless steel.

Note: This is not designed for a non-stick wok though.

4-Sided Grater

This is another useful accessory due to its versatility.

Most people think you can only use a 4 sided box grater for shredding cheese. However, it might surprise you to learn that the other three sides are important as well. Each side actually has its own particular function.

Along with shredding, you can also use this tool for making cheese and vegetables into fine strips, grating nutmeg or cinnamon, zesting lemons and limes or thinly slicing vegetables.

It’s an absolute must-have for preparing cheese and vegetables.

Digital Scales

Depending on where you are from, you might not have thought of this accessory before (these are far more popular in Europe than in North America). But having a digital scale in your kitchen can be very useful.

For one thing, it can help you make sure you’re measuring ingredients accurately. Most people tend to guess at whether or not they have the correct number of ounces, and measuring using scales is more accurate than using cups and spoons.

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Having a digital scale in your kitchen can also help you lose weight. It helps you measure exactly how much food you’re eating.

When shopping for a digital scale, look for something that’s legible, easy to use, and easy to clean. Also look for one that you can switch between grams and ounces so you can easily use any recipe.

Zester/Grater (eg Microplane)

Along with a 4 sided grater, it’s also a good idea to have a Microplane zester/grater in your kitchen. This tool’s most common function is zesting fruit, but it has other uses as well.

It’s also useful for grating certain hard foods such as parmesan cheese or nutmeg into a fine powder. You can also use it to grate fresh ginger or garlic much finer than using a knife.

These flat graters come with different hole sizes, so think about what you will use it for to determine whether you want a fine or coarse grater.

Please note that this accessory isn’t an alternative for a 4 sided grater. You still need both of these top kitchen utensils for different purposes.

Measuring Cups

Measuring cups are a no-brainer when it comes the best utensils for cooking. Obviously, you need them to accurately measure your ingredients.

But shopping for measuring cups is more complicated than you might expect.

First you need to ensure that you have different sizes for measuring different amounts. While you can guess at half a cup using just a 1-cup measure, it is far more accurate to use an actual half-cup measure.

Measuring Spoons

Along with measuring cups, measuring spoons are important home kitchen accessories. These are usually used for measuring small amounts of ingredients.

Like measuring cups, they can be made of a variety of different materials. However, you generally want to avoid plastic measuring spoons. These may not be dishwasher safe, and they break far too easily.

Stainless steel spoons are the best measuring spoons to shop for. Also, try to find spoons with engraved measurements since painted measurements can wear away over time.

Pizza Cutter

A good pizza cutter is an obvious must-have kitchen cutting tool for anyone who loves pizza.

You might be tempted to settle for a knife to cut your pizza. But unfortunately, even the best knives don’t cut as clean as a pizza cutter, and they can also be uncomfortable and time-consuming.

The best pizza cutters are made of stainless steel. These are durable, easy to clean, and resistant to rust.

The design is important, too. Some are designed as a giant blade while others use the classic wheel and handle design. Both are effective, so choose the one that’s most comfortable for you.

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Stick Blender

Also known as immersion blenders, these handheld devices are incredibly useful for situations where a countertop blender might not be practical.

You can use it to blend foods right in your saucepan or bowl, which can save a lot of time and effort.

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Many hand blenders also come in a set with a chopper/grinder bowl. This is super useful for blending baby puree, grinding spices or blending small quantities.

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You might also consider getting a cordless stick blender. These work with rechargeable batteries and mean that you can easily use them on your stove, without needing to be near a power socket.

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Vegetable Peeler

If you don’t already have a vegetable peeler in amongst your kitchen tools and gadgets, you’re really missing out. This tool will make preparing veggies and potatoes so much more convenient.

Vegetable peelers generally come in two types. These are swivel peelers and Y peelers.

Most people tend to prefer swivel peelers because they feel a bit more natural.

That said, many people swear by the Y peeler and so you might consider having both for different purposes.

Blades can be made of different types of materials, but once again, we have to recommend stainless steel. These blades are the most durable and effective.

Cheese Slicer

Here is another tool that can make cheese preparation much easier.

Again, you might be tempted to just use a knife to slice your cheese, but if you want to slice thin slices quickly and evenly, a cheese slicer is for you. It makes preparing cheese sandwiches so quick and easy!

There is a startlingly wide variety of cheese slicers on the market today. They come in all different shapes and sizes and are made for different kinds of cheeses.

It’s best to think about what kind of cheeses you usually eat and buy slicers that are appropriate for them.

Citrus Juicer

The next item on our kitchen equipment list is a citrus juicer. Citrus juicers are specifically made for extracting juice from fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes.

If you find yourself using citrus in recipes such as lime juice in guacamole or margaritas, lemon juice in hummus or salad dressing, then you should really get yourself one of these.

It makes juicing fruit quick and easy, means you don't waste any juice and you don't have to pick the pips out afterwards.

You can choose from a cheap plastic one or a more expensive version - and you can even get electric citrus juicers, which are worth investing in if you plan to make homemade lemonade, orange juice or margaritas often.

Garlic Press

If you like having garlic with your meals, then a garlic press is another useful accessory to add to your kitchen tools list.

A garlic press crushes garlic into very small pieces quickly and easily. You could never get garlic pieces this small with a knife, and it’s much faster as well.

When shopping for a garlic press, try to find something that’s dishwasher-safe. If this isn’t possible then at least find something that can be disassembled.

Ice Cream/Cookie Scoops

An ice cream scoop and cookie scoop are must-have kitchen accessories if you are into baking.

A cookie scoop, in particular, will help ensure that your cookies or cup cakes are all the same size and make it quick and easy to distribute cookie dough or cake batter.

Both products are very similar, and you can get away with using one for both purposes. That said, an ice cream scoop is generally larger.

The main thing to look for in a scoop is size. Obviously, the bigger the scoop, the bigger the portions. So choose a size you think is right for you. Buying a set with various sizes is a good option.